Five MSCP, four MPTC MLAs in tight spot in Manipur
Source: Hueiyen News Service / NNN
Imphal, September 30 2014 :
As many as nine legislators belonging to Manipur Pradesh Trinamool Congress (MPTC) and Manipur State Congress Party (MSCP) in Manipur are now in a tight spot over cancellation and acceptance of their nominees for the Hiyanglam by-poll, according to political analysts.
The nomination paper of Manipur Pradesh Trinamool Congress (MPTC) candidate Yumnam Thambou Singh was cancelled by an order of the Returning Officer (RO) yesterday.
The RO had stated no other party under the name like All India Trinamool Congress, Manipur State or All India Trinamool Congress, Manipur was found mentioned in the related Gazette as State Party of Manipur.
But the candidature of Thokchom Laiba Singh of MSCP was accepted by the Returning Officer (RO) after the scrutiny.
This acceptance assumes significance and reasserts the legitimacy and existence of MSCP.
Five out of the six candidates who had filed their nominations for contesting the by-election to Hiyanglam to be held on October 17 were accepted after the scrutiny.
One theory doing rounds is that the fate of five MSCP MLAs already merged with Manipur Pradesh Committee (MPCC) recently is now unpredictable.
They are currently facing charges that attract disqualification under the 10th Schedule.
A tribunal case in Manipur Legislative Assembly has been pending against them.
The then vice-president of MSCP, Adim Panmei approached the Speaker Th Lokeshwor's tribunal seeking disqualification of the five party MLAs after they joined the Congress Party fall recently.
The five MLAs� K Thamarjit, Nemcha Kipgen, RK Imo, P Brojen and Zanghemlung Panmei� declared that MSCP organisation had merged with Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) and closed down the party organisation at the time they joined the latter.
But Adim Panmei, now MPSCP president, has been claiming that MSCP is still functioning.
In the case of MPTC headed by party MLA Joykishan, speculations doing the rounds that the four party MLAs�Kh Joykishan, K Sarat, Th Bishorjit and O Lukhoi�could be in trouble.
The four MLAs are also now facing a separate tribunal case in Manipur Legislative Assembly after Manipur Pradesh Trinamool Congress Committee (MPTCC) president Th Shyamkumar pleaded with the Speaker to disqualify their MLAship.
The rebel group of Manipur unit of All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) formed the MPTC recently by declaring MLA Joykishan as its president.
following leadership crisis within the party.